Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Swanage Town Council Website

Is there a reason why STC's website has not updated its Agenda and Minutes of Meetings for several months now (in one case, committee meeting minutes were last updated in February!)? Is there not a performance target STC subscribes to about disseminating this information in a timely manner? Or has this policy fallen by the wayside in the interregnum between Town Clerks?

I think the public have a right to access, and the Council a duty to publish, this information. Not everyone is able to walk to the Town Hall to ask for minutes.

Could a member of STC please comment? If there is a legitimate reason, perhaps a notice on the website informing the public how this information can be accessed would be useful. Perhaps this omission has not been noticed at the Town Hall.



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 9:07 AM

9 comments:

The Postman said...

I have been complaining about the website for years, to little avail. Evidently, there is a lack of resources at the Town Hall to manage this better. However, my personal belief is that (in this day and age) it should be the primary means of communication. I shall keep seeking improvement. Meanwhile, if anyone is unhappy, contact the Town Hall and tell them your views: either by email to the Acting Town Clerk: or the Mayor, Bill Trite or by phone: 423636 or in person at any Council meeting (dates on the website...oh, no perhaps they're not).
Mike Hadley (Town Councillor)

Anonymous said...

This is not a long job for a competent system administrator. Makes you wonder what on earth is going on at town hall......

David Furmage said...

Nothing as usual..

Anonymous said...

Please try to avoid using 'competent' and 'Town Hall' in the same post. The are oxymoronic.

Anonymous said...

Could you imagine videoing the meetings? Half the council with back to the camera, others mumbling - it would be a disaster. What about the items which are deemed too sensitive for the public to hear?

Can't see it happening. They can't even post minutes, which should take a few seconds.

Anonymous said...

Obviously part 2 would not be streamed. Two webcams and a split screen would suffice, or they could revise the seating arrangements. I don't expect it to happen as they treat themselves as a secret society though.

Anonymous said...

Are you possibly implying a quasi-masonic influence here?

The ghost of George Burt would be horrified!

Anonymous said...

No, the Masons do good works - not so sure about the Town Hall.

Anonymous said...

Last week, I tried to find the Agenda for Monday's council meeting. Website page not available.

Swanage Town Council there are plenty of people in Swanage who could easily set up a website for you,its their job. Not only locals look at this site for information. If its website is artistic, welcoming, up to date with agendas and minutes, has links to other groups, photos etc, it will give the impression that Swanage is 'up with the times' even if, in reality, its still trying to catch up a bit !
It could even have a community notice board attached to it.

Come on..be brave..do it.